Architectural Mechanics

Changwen MI, PhD

Department of Engineering Mechanics
School of Civil Engineering
Southeast University
Sipailou 2#, Civil Engr. Rm. #811
Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096
(phone) 8379-2248, (email) mi@seu.edu.cn

Architectural Mechanics (Spring 2016, 3 credits)

A. General information
Instructor:

Changwen MI
Associate Professor of Engineering Mechanics

Contact Info:

Office: Yifu Architectural Bldg. Rm. 811

Phone: 025-8379-2248
Email: mi@seu.edu.cn

Office Hours:

by appointment

Class Schedule

Tuesday 0850-1125, 408

Text:

Not required.

References:

1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, by F. P. Beer, E. R.

Johnston and E. R. Eisenberg, 8th Ed., 2007, McGraw Hill
(ISBN: 007297687X)
2. Mechanics of Materials, by by F. P. Beer, E. R. Johnston and J.
T. Dewolf, 5th Ed., 2009, McGraw Hill (ISBN: 0073529389)
3. Structural Mechanics, by Bao Shihua and Gong Yaoqing,
Wuhan University of Technology Press, 2007.

Course Webpage:

http://em2.yolasite.com

B. Catalog Course Description

Introduction to architectural mechanics

Statics of particles
Rigid bodies: equivalent systems of forces
Equilibrium of rigid bodies
Internal forces of determinate structures
Axial loading of prismatic bars; concept of stresses & strains
Shearing & Bearing
Torsion of circular shafts
Bending internal forces & stresses
Bending deflections
Stress states and strength theory
Combined loading
Column buckling
Force Method
Displacement method
Moment distribution method

C. Grading Policy
Present work in a comprehensive, neat, and orderly
fashion to receive full credit.
Work must be turned in by the due date unless prior
arrangements are made.
The assignments are weighted as follows:
Assignment category
Homework
Final exam
Course total

Percentage
50%
50%
100%

1 Objectives of Architectural Materials

Statics, Mechanics of Materials and Structural
Mechanics are parts of
the Architectural Mechanics

Architectural Mechanics is to analyze the

response of rest bodies and structures to
forces.

Mechanics can be defined as that science which describes and predicts

the conditions of rest or motion of bodies under the action of forces. It is
divided into three parts: mechanics of rigid bodies, mechanics of
deformable bodies & structures, and mechanics of fluids.
The mechanics of rigid bodies is subdivided into statics and dynamics, the
former dealing with bodies at rest, the latter with bodies in motion. In this
part of the study of mechanics, bodies are assumed to be perfectly rigid.
Actual structures and machines, however, are never absolutely rigid and
deform under the loads to which they are subjected. But these
deformations are usually small and do not appreciably affect the conditions
of equilibrium or motion of the structure under consideration. They are
important, though, as far as the resistance of the structure to failure is
concerned and are studied in mechanics of materials, which is a part of the
mechanics of deformable bodies. The third division of mechanics, the
mechanics of fluids, is subdivided into the study of incompressible fluids
and of compressible fluids. An important subdivision of the study of
incompressible fluids is hydraulics, which deals with problems involving
water.

Mechanics is a physical science, since it deals with the study

of physical phenomena. However, some associate mechanics
with mathematics, while many consider it as an engineering
subject. Both these views are justified in part. Mechanics is
the foundation of most engineering sciences and is an
indispensable prerequisite to their study. However, it does not
have the empiricism found in some engineering sciences, that
is, it does not rely on experience or observation alone; by its
rigor and the emphasis it places on deductive reasoning it
resembles mathematics. But, again, it is not an abstract or
even a pure science; mechanics is an applied science. The
purpose of mechanics is to explain and predict physical
phenomena and thus to lay the foundations for engineering
applications.

Statics: The Analysis of Bodies at Rest

Dynamics: The Analysis of Bodies in Motion
Mechanics of Materials: The Analysis of Deformable Bodies
Structural Mechanics: The Analysis of Deformable Structures, often
are statically indeterminate
Then, what is the Body anyway?
(1) Particle: Point Mass
(2) Rigid Body: Mass + Volume, but No Deformation
(3) Deformable Body: Mass + Volume + Deformation
(4) Deformable Structure: Structure + Deformation
(c.f.) This course does not deal with Bodies/Structures in Motion.

Mass Points

Rigid Bodies

Deformable Solids

Deformable Roof Trusses

Structures Composed of Prismatic Bars

1. Space (3-D) Structures: Bars/loads dont belong to the same plane
2. Plane (2-D) structures: Bars/loads belong to the same plane

Classification of Plane Structures Composed Prismatic Bars

1. Bar

2. Beam
3. Curved Beam (arch)
4. Plane Frame
5. Truss
6. Suspended-cable structure

2 Loads & Restraints and Free-body Diagram

Concept of Loads:
force: action of one body on another;
characterized by its point of application,
magnitude, line of action, and sense.

Moment MO of a force F applied at the

point A about a point O,

MO r F
Scalar moment MOL about an axis OL is
the projection of the moment vector MO
onto the axis,


M OL M O r F

Classification of Loads:

Criteria

Classification

Exerting Objects

Active/restraint Loads

Size of Acting Scope

Concentrated/Distributed Loads

Dimensions of Distributed Loads

Volume/Surface/Line Loads

Acting Period

Instantaneous(Live)/Constant Loads

Constancy w.r.t. Time

Static/Dynamic Loads

Characteristics

External Loads Internal Forces

Restraints:
Fixed support

MR

FRy

FRx
Hinged or pinned support

FRy

FRx

Roller support

FRy

Space Diagram vs. Free-Body Diagram

Space Diagram: A sketch

showing the physical
conditions of the problem.

Free-Body Diagram: A sketch

showing only the forces on the
selected particle.